Tractor mower



s. E. HIILBLOM TRACTOR uovmn Nov. 23, 1948.

3 Shouts-Sheet. 1

" Jame Lei EHzIZLGm Nov. 23, 1948. s. E. HILBLOM 2,454,697

wmcwo'n uowza Filed Oct. 18, 1943 a Shasta-sheaf 2 Nov. 23, 1948. s. E.HILBLOM 2,454,697

} v TRACTOR MOWER Filed Oct. 18,, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invent o2":

Jamul 5.1%[5502721 Patented Nov. 23, 1948 TRACTOR MOWER Chicago, 111.,auignor to In- Samnel E. ,Hilblom,

tel-national Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationOctober 1:, 194a, Serial no. men

1 Claim. (01. 36-25) This invention relates to a new and improvedtractor mower and has for one of Its pri p l Jects provision of quickattachment means for the mower to the tractor.

An important object of this invention is .to provide a mower havingtubular i'rame construction which adds to the rigidity of the mower andits ability to withstand greater torsional strains than the presentlyused mowers.

- Another important object of this invention is to provide a.tractor-mounted mower havinga mower part capable of releasing rearwardlyupon the mower striking an obstruction.

Heretofore, mowers have been attached to tractors with such a highdegree of permanency that it has been d-ifiicult to remove them from thetractor in order that the tractor may be used for other purposes. It is,therefore, 'an object of the-pr ent invention to provide a mower capableof quick and easy attachment to a tractor and likewise a quick and easyremoval of the mower from the tractor. However. Present day mowerscannot be mounted and dismounted on a tractor by a single person, butrather it has been necessary to employ three or even four men toaccomplish a mower mounting. The subject mower overcomes this undueexpenditure of labor and permits a user of this to easily eflect a mowermounting without additional help.

Another and still further important object of this invention is toprovide a rear mounted tractor mower compact in its structure andsimpler in its manufacture and operation.

Other and further important objects of this in 'vention will becomeapparent from the disclosures in the following specification andaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the tractor mower of thisinvention, having one of the tractor traction wheels removed;

Figure 2 is a partial detail of the mower supporting means inground-engaging position;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the'tractor mower as shown in Figure 1; I

Figure 4 is a detail of the hinge between the mower and tractor;

Figure 5 is a rear view of the tractor mower,

' showing the supporting means in ground-engaging position;

Figure 6 is a side view-detail of the releasable latch intermediate themower and tractor;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6,. with the latch in extendedposition;

Figure 8 is a view taken 6; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-6 of Figure 1.

As shown in the drawings. the reference numeral i I indicates generallya, tr t having a narrow lnnn'ii-nriinei "khan-iln 1 .f

on the line 8 of Figure arm 22 through the medium of a wheels i3 and l3mounted on an axle ll supported independing axle housings I 6 from thechassis 12. The tractor ii is equipped with an' tank i 8 superposing theis generally controlled by an actuating lever (not shown) in thevicinity of the tractor operator,

which effects some means of power operation for the rock arm i3. Thetraction wheels l3 and l3 of the tractor II are supplied with rigidfenders 2|. and 2| capable of supporting a lever v rigid shaft 24,positioned across the tractor and journally mounted on the tractorfenders 2| and 2| in bearings or bushings 24* and 24 The lever arm 22 isfixedly mounted at 23 on the shaft 24 and imparts rotational movementfrom an arm 26 to an arm 21. Upon movement of the power-operated arm it,a connecting link 28 positioned between the power-operated rock arm I!)and the lever 22 causes similar and simultaneous move- 'ment of the arm22 at the rear of the tractor. The arms 23 and 21 are keyed or otherwiseafllxed to the shaft 24 at 26 and 21 in the customary manner so thatrotation of one automatically causes rotation of the other. Anadjustment mechanism 30 is shown extending between the arm 26 and an uward extension 26 of the arm 22. The adjustment mechanism comprises aninternally threaded tubular member 3| affixed to the arm 26 and ,athreaded bolt member 32 adapted to engage the memberli and to berotatable by a crank handle 33 extending through the upward extension 29of the arm 22. Rotation of the handle 33 controls the distance betweenthe arm 26 and the extension 23. It will be evident, therefore, thatmovement of the arm 22 by the power-operated arm l9 will effect acorresponding movement of the adjusting mechanism. The arms 22 and 26are substantially a bell-crank having a. variable angle between theextending arms by reason of the ad- .iustable mechanism therebetween.

The mower consists oi a frame 34 having tubular member 36 and 31 inparallel and vertical relationship, one to the other; 'and joinedtogether i by upright end members 36 which ans welded at 38" to thebottom member 36. The upper tubular member 31 is journaled for rotationwithin arm 26 and 21 through the 3 Ordinarily, the tractor is equippedwitha drawbar or other hitch means to which amower or other implementcan be attached. In the present case, the tractor is not so equipped,and in lieu of the draw-bar on the tractor the mower frame 84 embodies apair of forwardly extending arms 41. The arms .41 are fixedly spacedapart byanother tubular cross member 48, and it is on this tubularmember that the hinge bracket members 44 are welded, as shown at'48 inFigured.

It is quite evident, therefore, that the mower com I sists of a seriesof tubular cross members which are capable of withstanding the necessarystresses and strains caused by operation of the mower over rough groundor the like. The structure of the mower frame forms the subject matterof my coand it in turn connects with the linkage I I. This linkage H isof standard construction and is best shown in Figure 3, wherein it isevident that an upward movement of an extension 12 of a bellm icrankpivoted at 13 will cause'a downward movement of an extension 14 of thisbell-crank. A coextensive bell-crank 18 is pivoted at 11 and has armextensions 18 and 18. The extensions 14 of pending divisionalapplication, Ser. No. 747,037,

filed May 9, 1947. The attaching arms 41, asbest shown in Figure 2, areequipped with wide-mouth. V-shaped slots in the ends thereof,-a's shownat 5|. The depending axle housings i8 of the tractor have inwardlyprojecting cap screws 52 which are in axial alinement with each other oneach axle housing adjacent the rear traction wheels l3 and i3 of thetractor II. The cap screws 52 are threadedly mounted on the housings l8as shown in Figure 9 and during mounting of the mower, they arewithdrawn a substantial distance but are always maintained in sufficientengagement with the housing to support the mower. The slots 5| of thearms 41 are adapted to receive the cap screws 52, and when the screwreaches a verthe firstbell-crank and 18 of the second bellcrank '11 arejoined together, and a downward movement of the arm 18 will cause anupward movement of the arm 18. This arm 18 is attached to the cutter bar82 at 8|, and an upward movement of the arm 18 causes a similar upwardmovement of the cutter-bar and associated sickle about the hinge B4. Inorder to obtain an upward movement of the extension 12 of thefirst-named belltex 58' of the V-shaped slot 5|, the cap screw is thenscrewed into the housing 18 to thereby lock the arms 41 rigidly withrespect to the tractor. The arms 41 now act as the customary tractordraw-bar.

A short tubular longitudinal member 54 is mounted through and across thestubbleward end of the main frame tube 88, as shown at 58 in Figures 3and 4. This tube member 54 is welded to the tube 38 at right angles andacts as a bearing support for an arm 51, which has collars 55 and 55"fastened thereto by means of pins 88 and 88 respectively. As best shownin Figure 3 the arm 51 extends across the rear of the tractor and joinsa yoke member 58. The yoke 58 is equipped with a sleeve bearing 58 intowhich the end'of the arm ,51 extends. The yoke, therefore, has pivotalmovement about the arm 51, but the yoke 58 and arm 51 move together upand down when the arm 51 is raised within the sleeve 54. A mower shoe8|, cutter-bar 82, and sickle 83 are hingedly attached to the yoke 58 at84.

The mower cutter-bar is capable of several ranges of movement withrespect to the tractor. The mower as a unit with the arm 51 and torquetube 88 is capable of rearward horizontal swinging about the verticalhinge 88. The mower cuttor-bar is additionally capable of'vert'ical-move cranks, the arm 21 moved by the power-lift arm I8 ismoved downwardly, and this causes the member 81 to move downwardly androtates the shaft 81, whereupon the arm 88 is moved arcuately upwardly;

a The mower sickle 88 is driven from the tractor by means of a powertake-oil shaft extendin from the rearof the tractor at 82 and is Joinedby a universal joint 88 to a tubular socket 84; A second universal Joint88 supports a square extension driving shafit 81' for telescopicrelationship with the square tubular portion 84 of the joint 83. It isevident, therefore, that the distance between the universal joints 83and'88 may be extended or contracted as required, andwhen the mower isswung-rearwardly about. the hinge 39, drive from the tractor iscontinuedto the mower sickle. The other side of the universal joint 88 formsalongi-tudinally extending rotary shaft 88, which in turn drives apulley 88. A belt88 drives a pulley 85, as best shown in Figure 5, whichhas a crank 85 for effecting reciprocation of the pitman 8| tocauselikereciprocation of the knife portion 82 of the'sickle'83 orthe'cutter-bar 82. I The mower cutter-bar 82 is normally maintained atright angles '0 the line of draft and extends out from the tractor, asshownin full lines in Figure 3.

force causes it to yield rearwardly.

ment as a unit with the arm 51 when the inward extension of the arm 51is rotated within its hearing support 54, and it will be evident thatit-is' also possible to lift the mower cutter-bar through a 84 isaccomplished by movement of the powerlift arm l8 and a resultantdownward movement of'the' arm 21. A connecting link 88 extendsdownwardly from the end of the arm 21 and is in turn joined with anansula'rly-shaped arm 01.

The structure accomplishing this action is best shown in Figures 1,'3,6, 7, and 8. This structure forms the subject matter of my co-pendingdivisional applicationser. No. 755,946, filed June 20, 1947. Aconnecting link 88 joins. the yoke 58 of the mower torn. yielding latcharm 84. As shown in Figure 6, this yielding latch arm 84 extends in aforward direction with respect to the tractor.

This position corresponds to the normal operatrearward released positionof the mower, as shown by the dash linesin' Figure The arm 84 is quippWi h a cross arm 88 at one end thereof and, is pivoted at N on a stubshaft as on a disklike member. 88 which is in turn welded.or other- Wi eattached'to the grassward supporting arm v 41, as shown at IOI in Figure1.

It is obvious, therefore, that the disk 99 and stud are rigid withrespect to the arm 41. The arm 94 is Journaled on the shaft 99. The disk99 is equipped with notches I02 and I03, which are equipped withangularly inclined walls I06 and I'I. A stop I04, welded to the disk 99.is provided to prevent movement of the cross member 98 in one direction.The cross member 99 on the arm 94 is equipped with projections I09 whichhave inclined sides.

I 09 and III which correspond in their angle to the angles in thenotches I02 and I09. In normal operating position, as shown in Figures 6and 8, the projections I09 have their inclined sides engaging theinclined sides of the notches I02 and I03. A spring II2 superposes thestub shaft 99, and by means of a large washer H9 backed up by a nut II4,the spring acts against the arm 94 tending to maintain engagement of theinclined sides I09 and III of the projections I09 with the inclinedsides I09, and I0] of the notches I02 and I 03. The spring II2 may haveits compression varied by movement of the nut along a threaded extensionIIB of the stub shaft 99. when the mower cutter-bar does strike someobstruction, the spring II2 may be compressed by the tendency of the arm94 to rotate. If sufl'icient force is applied on the cutter-bar 92 andtherefore the yoke 58, the connecting link 99 will pull the arm 94 andits cross member 90 and associated projections I09 out from the inclinedsides of the notches I02 and I03, whereupon the arm 94 is permitted freerotation with its' cross member 96 on the surface of the disk 99. A stopII! is welded to the surface of the disk 99 at some strategic positionsuch as shown to prevent full rotation of the cross member "andthereupon provide a final rearward yielding stop for the mower.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 5, legs II9 are provided at theextremities of the mower frame tube 38, and these legs are adapted tosupport the mower at a time when the tractor is driven back into theV-shaped slots II of the arms 41 of this mower. The legs III are pivotedto the connecting arms 41 within a slot II9 to permit easyextensibleadjustment as the need arises and about the bolt III whichmaintains fixed engagement between the leg member H0 and arm 41 inadjusted position. The mower is not adequately supported by the boltsholding the arms 41 to the tractor, and it is, therefore, necessary tosupply a supporting link between the arms 41 and some higher point onthe tractor than the attaching point of the vertex 93 of the V-shapedslot II. An upward extension I22 of the leg Ill extending at a slightangular position with respect to the leg portion is adapted to swingabout the pivot cap screw HI and engage a bolt I23 positioned above thecap screws 02 on the housing I9 of the tractor. It is quite evident thatafter the tractor has been backed into position, the legs Ill can beswung upwardly, and such upward swinging causes a downward swinging ofthe upper extension I22 of the leg III, whereupon a notch I24 in the endof this extension I 22 will engage the cap screw I29. The constructionis duplicated on both sides of the tractor, and a tightening of the capscrews 92 and I23 will firmly support the mower to the tractor. Anadditional leg I20 is provided at the rear of the arm 41 andintermediate the sides or the mower frame, as shown in Figure 5. The legI20 has a ground-engaging foot I21 and is pivoted at I20. The pivotingof the leg I29 is accomplished at a point on the shaft 48 at such anangle that an upward swinging of this leg I26 will cause it to lieclosely adjacent and parallel to this tube 48.

The mower after yielding rearwardly to the position shown in dashedlines in Figure 3, is easily returnable to its normal position bypushing the mower forwardly or backing of the tractor, whereupon thesupporting tube 39 will move about its hinge 99 and slide upon asupporting member I29 which is welded to the tube 48 at I3I. Thissupporting member I29 is best shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

It is believed that herein is provided a new and novel tractor-mountedmower which will prove advantageous and economical for all usersthereof. Numerous details of construction may be varied throughout awide range without departing from the principles set forth in thisspecification, and it is intended that the scope of the patent bedetermined only by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a mower adapted to be quickly attached to a tractor; the tractorbeing provided with horizontally' and vertically spaced cap screws on afixed portion thereof; the combination comprising: a transverselydisposed frame spaced rearwardly of the tractor; a cutter bar connectedto said frame and extending outwardly with respect thereto; means'forconnecting said frame to the tractor whereby said cutter bar extendslaterally outwardly with respect to the tractor including arms fixed tosaid frame and extending forwardly thereof in substantial alignment withcertain of said cap screws; said arms having V-shaped slotted openingsin one end thereof with the wide portions of said openings at theforward ends of the arms, whereby the arms at their openings may easilyengage the aligned cap screws; combination brace and implementsupporting mem-.

bers pivotally attached to the spaced arms; said members includingportions extending above and below said pivotal attachment and having aV- shaped notch in the upper portion of each such member; saidcombination members being adapted. in one position, to have their lowerportions engage the ground for supporting the arms fixed to the frame ina substantially aligned position with respect to certain of the capscrews prior to attachment to a tractor, and, in another posi tion, tohave the upper portions thereof swung into engagement with theverticallyspaced cap screws on the tractor whereby the ground enengagingposition.-

. SAMUEL E. HILBLOM.

REFERENCES CITED file of this patent: v

UNITED STATES PATENTS gaging portion is supported in an out of groundThe following references are of record in the

